The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 6th that it will make every effort to stabilize the supply and demand of agricultural and food products ahead of the Lunar New Year.
An official from the ministry stated, "The government will work to minimize the burden on the public by expanding the supply of seasonal products for the Lunar New Year and promoting discount support on an unprecedented scale."
For early price stabilization, the government plans to supply the maximum available quantities of cabbage and radish to the market. In the case of radish, the period for applying the tariff quota has been extended.
Among fruits, due to sunburn damage, pear prices have been strong. The government intends to supply as much as possible of items without supply and demand issues, such as apples, persimmons, grapes, and Cheonhyehyang mandarins, to meet the demand for fruits during the Lunar New Year peak season.
Additionally, the government plans to increase fruit supply by introducing a low-tariff rate quota (TRQ) for oranges (0% tariff rate) and extending the period for applying tariff quotas on imported fruits.
Strawberries had previously been expensive due to poor growth caused by the heatwave, but prices have recently been declining as growth has recovered.
The number of laying hens increased by 5.4% compared to last year, and egg production also rose by 10.3%.
However, due to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), there is a possibility of a decrease in supply. The government is preparing emergency supply measures, including the introduction of tariff quotas on processed egg products.
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